Meet Amanda Stamps

Amanda Stamps retired from the Mesa Police Department after spending almost 24 years pursuing her passion of helping others. During her career she worked as a patrol officer, a field training officer, a detective with the Special Victim's Unit, in Community Engagement and Youth Development, as a member of the peer support team, and most recently as the department's Crisis Intervention Team Program Coordinator. 

A recognized Subject Matter Expert, Detective Stamps has taught mental illness awareness and crisis intervention to officers both at the academy level and in their continuing training and provides training to communication and detention personnel. Detective Stamps provides many classes throughout the community, including training specific for the Autism Community. 

In 2015, Detective Stamps became the 1st full-time CIT Program Coordinator for the Mesa Police Department and was involved in the creation of the Crisis Response Team, the current co-responder model, and the call diversion program responsible for diverting hundreds of calls directly to the crisis system. Detective Stamps has worked with numerous agencies throughout Arizona to develop evidence-based CIT Programs. 

Susan Cabano
Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Susan Cabano serves as Chief Operating Officer at Practical Law Enforcement Crisis Solutions, where she provides strategic and operational leadership to support the organization’s programs, partnerships, and long-term growth. In this role, she contributes to operational planning and organizational development while helping coordinate initiatives with government agencies, law enforcement partners, and community stakeholders.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Business and Communications from Arizona State University, providing a strong foundation in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and operational management. Her academic background supports her ability to guide complex initiatives, streamline processes, and build effective partnerships across diverse stakeholders.

Susan brings extensive experience in operational leadership across technology, compliance, and customer support environments. She serves in roles including Senior Payments Compliance Analyst, Manager of Technical Support, Customer Support Manager, and Customer Experience Leader, where she manages compliance operations, leads cross-functional teams, and develops scalable service and performance management systems.

Her work centers on building effective operational infrastructure, improving workflows, and translating regulatory and policy requirements into practical procedures. She is recognized for strengthening team performance, optimizing operational processes, and implementing systems that support efficiency, accountability, and sustainable growth.

Susan also brings a personal connection to the mission of the organization through her family’s ties to law enforcement, as her spouse served in the profession. This connection provides her with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by law enforcement officers and reinforces her commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen partnerships between public safety professionals and the communities they serve.

Through her leadership at Practical Law Enforcement Crisis Solutions, Susan applies her operational expertise and personal perspective to help advance the organization’s mission and support collaborative solutions that strengthen public safety and community partnership

Education 

October 2020 to Present

Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Doctor of Behavioral Health

September 2016 to 2019 

Grand Canyon University, College of Doctoral Studies in Organizational Leadership, Behavioral Health

December 2003  

Northern Arizona University, Master of Education, Counseling & Human Relations

July 1997 

University of Alabama at Huntsville, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

Experience 

Mesa Police Department, Mesa, Arizona

Crisis Response Team Detective/CIT Program Coordinator (July 1998-Present)

• Manage more than 250 personnel throughout the department who are certified as CIT Trained. Responsible for initial training and yearly continuing training. Assisted with training more than 650 CIT Officers.
• Provide training at all levels for both sworn and non-sworn members regarding crisis response, mental illness, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, and Autism. Trained the entire Mesa Police Department in 2016.
• Responsible for representing the department across the state and providing various mental health and CISM training.
• Coordinate the implementation of the Crisis Response Team and all projects associated with the unit’s growth.
• Coordinate partnership with CPR, Inc. with the clinician assigned to the Crisis Response Team as a law enforcement co-responder.
• Act as the subject matter expert on crisis intervention, mental illness, aging issues, and developmental disabilities for the agency. Give guidance to command regarding projects and policy. Advise on civil litigation against the City of Mesa.
• Team leader for the Peer support team. Certified in Critical Incident Stress Management through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. Responded to dozens of critical incidents and ran CISM de-briefs post-incident.
• Law enforcement liaison with behavioral health providers through Maricopa County.
• Provide community education and events including Mental Health First Aid (Adult, Law enforcement, Fire Fighters, Higher Educations, and Aging population), autism training including “Be Safe the Movie,” and community resource fairs for behavioral health.
• Manage the Residents Assistance Program to provide early identification for individuals with disabilities during police contacts.
• Complete policy writing and updates on crisis/mental health response.
• Manage the budget, donations and grants responsible for the Crisis Response Team including local, Tribal, and federal grants. Has written grants including local, federal and tribal agencies.
• Act as the City of Mesa representative on local suicide prevention initiatives.
• Experience for over 2 decades of criminal investigations, patrol, field training, community engagement, and youth development.
• Provide one on one training/direct supervision to new officers in the field. Responsible for all phases of training.
• Act as a liaison for the LGBT Community as an active member of the Diversity Team.

Training Classes/Curriculum Development

• “Be Safe” the movie (Community Autism Training)
• Behavioral Health Response (Required academy training AZ. Helped develop statewide curriculum)
• Mental Illness Awareness
• De-escalation and Communication
• Understanding Autism
• Alzheimer’s and Dementia Response
• Basic Crisis Intervention Training
• CIT Training (40 hour class facilitation)
• Officer Self-Care and Resiliency
• The petition writing process and mental health statutes (Arizona)
• Basic Motivational Interviewing
• Situational Awareness for Crisis Teams
• Cop Culture and responding with law enforcement (for BH providers)

Leadership Experience

Arizona Crisis Intervention Team Association

1st Vice President (2019-current)

St. Luke's Behavioral Hospital

Governing Board Member (2021-2023)

Maricopa Community Crisis Collaborative

Co-Chair (2020-2021)

Mental Health America of Arizona

Elected Board Member (2018-current)

Professional Associations/Advisory Boards

Community Advisory Board for ASU’s Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy

Invited Member (2020-2022)

Mesa Police Department Mental Health Advisory Board

Founding Member (2016-2022)

Mesa Police Department Human Rights Advisory Board

Chairperson (2018-2019)

CIT International Member (2016-current) 

Arizona CIT Association

Executive Board Member (2019-current) 

National Alliance for Mental Illness Member, (2016-current)

East Valley CIT Program Collaboration

Founding Member (2015-current)

Arizona Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition

Member (2015-2022)

Arizona Women in Policing Association

Member (2013-current)

Special Olympics/Law Enforcement Torch Run

Mesa Committee Member/Participant (1998-2022)

Academic Services

Western Arizona College-Basic Police Academy

2021-Present

University of Phoenix, Online Campus

Adjunct Faculty (2006-2012) 

Everest College, Mesa, 

Arizona Adjunct Faculty (2006-2008)

Central Arizona College/Regional Law Officers Training Academy, 

Adjunct Faculty (2004-2008)

Awards

Public Safety Partnership Award

Arizona State University Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy, 2020

Detective of the Year

Mesa Police Department, 2019

Shining Star Award

Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, 2018

David’s Hope Crisis Award

Arizona Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition, 2017

Crisis Response Officer of Distinction

Arizona Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition, 2016

Chief’s Impact Award

Mesa Police Department, 2016

Life-Saving Citation

Mesa Police Department, 2015

Consulting Services

Assisted in developing CIT Programs for the following Arizona areas:

Eastern Maricopa County, Western Maricopa County, Navajo County, Gila County, Pinal County, and Yavapai County